I read the report. Does it imply that the link from Trinity Way is going to be closed?
This is really handy for reaching the Boddingtons site!
The closure of this would form a barrier between the City Centre and the area to the North of the station!

I read the report. Does it imply that the link from Trinity Way is going to be closed?
This is really handy for reaching the Boddingtons site!
The closure of this would form a barrier between the City Centre and the area to the North of the station!

The words of a fare dodger right here! Arrest this man officer and throw away the key.

The words of a fare dodger right here! Arrest this man officer and throw away the key.

There’s other routes you soppy sod.

Permeability is an important aspect of urban planning.
Especially in an area such as Victoria, where you have high levels of activity on one side and surface car parks, a late-night snooker hall and prostitutes on the other.

Let's say that in the next wave of central-fringe developments, a new office block/residential scheme is considered for Dutton Street. If there isn't direct access through Victoria, the walk via Corporation Street or Victoria Street adds a good few minutes, making the scheme less viable.

Admittedly, I haven't seen the plans and don't understand the way the concourse will be routed, but if this route is closed off from the Arena too, it will mean that the dispersal of people from events will be made more difficult, meaning that post-event disruption lasts longer.

The Arena owner & operator probably have a good point regarding the fumes,but I suppose that could apply to any station with a mezzanine floor.

Reinforces the cases for:
Not terminating trains in Platforms 3,4,5,6
Building the western facing bays - although they would mean a bloody long walk
Electrification of routes to Wigan via Atherton, Kirkby,(Skelmersdale),Blackburn,Clitheroe, Rochdale and Calder Valley

Perhaps more seriously, I avoid events at the Arena because of the difficulties associated with exiting the place - is there anything that could be done about it?

Network Rail has applied to construct a new £20m train shed roof at the station as part of the £560m Northern Hub plans to improve rail services in the North.

The work involves the restoration of the grade II-listed station buildings but there will also be changes to the pedestrian access to the arena, which is owned by Development Securities and operated by SMG.

A council document reveals how the arena's management is "concerned that the current pedestrian routes through the site would be adversely affected."

According to the report, they believe the inclusion of an elevated walkway within the new arrangement, "would mean that many visitors to the arena would have to pass over, and possibly wait in queues above, platforms one and two and experience potentially very poor air quality as a result of exhaust emissions from diesel-powered trains waiting at the platforms".

The arena also said: "The closure of the link from Trinity Way and the multi-storey car park to the mezzanine bridge would result in a much longer, more convoluted and busier route for some disabled users."

The council's report said there had been on-going discussions between the owners, managers and operators of the arena and Network Rail which had led to "broad agreement" on other matters such as potential problems as a result of construction work, but a conclusion of "commercial arrangements" was still required.

"If these commercial arrangements cannot be concluded, the scheme could not be progressed in its current form," said the report. Council officers have recommended the planning committee approves the scheme when they meet on December 20.

A spokesman for Development Securities said: "It has been important for us to input into this process given that the proposed works impact upon the arena. Both the existing access and servicing to the arena would be affected by the proposed plans and we have consulted Network Rail on these issues.

"We are now confident that the redevelopment plans suitably address our concerns although they remain to be finalised legally."

Also.

Quote:

Manchester City Council
Report for Resolution
Committee Planning and Highways

Date 20 December 2012

Subject 100355/FO/2012/C1 – PLANNING PERMISSION
Redevelopment of railway station comprising demolition and
replacement of the existing train shed roof and replacement
with a new roof structure, provision of a new link bridge to the
Arena, reconfiguration and refurbishment of the concourse,
provision of new passenger facilities, refurbishment of
heritage features including Heritage rooms, Soldier gate,
memorial wall and ancillary works. The scheme also includes
the provision of additional Metrolink tracks and platforms
within the station.

100356/LO/2012/C1 LISTED BUILDING CONSENT
Redevelopment of railway station comprising demolition and
replacement of the existing train shed roof and replacement
with a new roof structure, provision of a new link bridge to the
Arena, reconfiguration and refurbishment of the concourse,
provision of new passenger facilities, refurbishment of
heritage features including Heritage rooms, Soldier gate,
memorial wall and ancillary works. The scheme also includes
the provision of additional Metrolink tracks and platforms
within the station.

Its funny that Network rail are now paying the Arena to run the ventilation systems after years of them being turned off, but when it suits they complain. I still think they will block the entrance at Trinity way one way or the other as they are losing far too much revenue out of it. Also once barriers go up across the concourse your exit will be blocked for through traffic. The entrance to Maccys is supposed to be being closed from the bridge we heard.

Added to that Ive never seen queues coming down the stairs from the arena so why would they suddenly appear?

If you park in the multi-story it looks as though you might have to walk round? If you are coming through Victoria as far as I can tell the stairs to reach the first level will be before barriers to the actual platform.

Actually as a side edit the lifts that connect the carpark levels also have access into the JD Williams staff only areas as do the stair wells

A multimillion-pound regeneration project of Victoria Station in Manchester city centre has been given the go ahead by planning chiefs.
Manchester City Council's planning committee approved the application yesterday (20 December 2012) which is intended to address an estimated doubling of passenger numbers to 12 million by 2019 as services expanded through the Northern Hub initiative.
Network Rail, the transport authority behind the project, is planning to remove the existing grade II-listed roofs over the platforms and concourse to replace them with a new £16m roof of curved steel ribs.
Other planned work includes restoration of facades of the grade II-listed buildings, restoration of lighting and a frontage canopy and replacement of paving.
An old first class lounge is also set to be restored for public use while retail units on the concourse have been earmarked for removal.
Existing staircases which lead to the nearby Manchester Arena would also be removed and replaced with a walkway deck while additional tracks and platforms for the Metrolink tram systems are also mooted.
The station's four-storey buildings date back to 1909.

MANCHESTER Arena's management feared changes to Victoria Station could leave gig-goers covered in diesel exhaust. Network Rail has applied to construct a new £20m train shed roof at the station as part of the £560m Northern Hub plans to improve rail services in the North.
The work involves the restoration of the grade II-listed station buildings but there will also be changes to the pedestrian access to the arena, which is owned by Development Securities and operated by SMG. A council document reveals how the arena's management was "concerned that the current pedestrian routes through the site would be adversely affected."
According to the report, they believe the inclusion of an elevated walkway within the new arrangement, "would mean that many visitors to the arena would have to pass over, and possibly wait in queues above, platforms one and two and experience potentially very poor air quality as a result of exhaust emissions from diesel-powered trains waiting at the platforms". The arena also said: "The closure of the link from Trinity Way and the multi-storey car park to the mezzanine bridge would result in a much longer, more convoluted and busier route for some disabled users."
The council's report said there had been on-going discussions between the owners, managers and operators of the arena and Network Rail which had led to "broad agreement" on other matters such as potential problems as a result of construction work, but a conclusion of "commercial arrangements" was still required. "If these commercial arrangements cannot be concluded, the scheme could not be progressed in its current form," said the report. Council officers have recommended the planning committee approves the scheme when they meet on December 20. A spokesman for Development Securities said: "It has been important for us to input into this process given that the proposed works impact upon the arena. Both the existing access and servicing to the arena would be affected by the proposed plans and we have consulted Network Rail on these issues. "We are now confident that the redevelopment plans suitably address our concerns although they remain to be finalised legally." The proposals were approved by the city's planning committee on December 20.

I thought it was the main building that was listed, plus the buildings at the side from 1860 or when ever? Im sure I read in the past that the roof was already too badly damaged to bring it onto the listing? Could well be wrong though.

I thought it was the main building that was listed, plus the buildings at the side from 1860 or when ever? Im sure I read in the past that the roof was already too badly damaged to bring it onto the listing? Could well be wrong though.

Yes, they added those in 1988, including the war memorial and tiled wall map.

Apparently works will be kicking off now in March while Metrolink finishes its own plans, hopefully.

In the mean time tomorrow a company (I forget what name) is coming measure up the station using laser equipment that can generate 3D images like you see when they show the London underground station plans.

Areas being looked at are the bridge and lifts around platforms 3 to 6, the Metrolink platforms and the bridges at Aspin lane/Red bank, both rail and Metrolink areas.